Visitors of patients undergoing angioplasty will be able to see their loved ones in the PCI short stay unit or the 2C Cardiovascular Unit or the Critical Care Unit (ICU). Click on the links for more information.

I Have a Question...

Your first and best source of information about your health is your own primary care provider (family doctor, nurse practitioner) or your specialist.

You may also call the Catheterization (Cath) Lab reception desk directly if you have any general questions about angioplasty at the Health Sciences Centre at (807) 684-6675. (Please note that we cannot answer medical questions about a specific patient over the phone.)

For general questions about the Health Sciences Centre, please call the Switchboard at (807) 684-6000.

Architectural Award

In 2013, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre ranked 6th for Most Architecturally Impressive Hospitals in the World

Angioplasty

Angioplasty, also known by its technical name Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI), is a specialized procedure to open up a coronary artery which is narrowed due to plaque build-up. A fine tube, or catheter, is threaded from the artery in the wrist or groin up to the site of the blockage in the heart. The balloon-tip of the catheter is inflated to press the plaque back against the wall of the artery. When the catheter is removed, the artery remains open wider than before, allowing more blood and oxygen to get to the heart muscle.

In most cases, a tiny wire coil called a stent is inserted with the catheter to help stabilize the newly opened area of plaque. Stents are not necessary for all patients.

The procedure takes place in one of our two Catheterization (Cath) Labs, and is performed by a specialist called an interventional cardiologist. Angioplasty takes approximately one hour to perform, followed by recovery. This recovery may take anywhere from a few hours in the PCI short stay unit, to a few days in the ICU and/or the 2C Cardiovascular Unit.

Visitors

During recovery, a maximum of two visitors 12 years of age and older are welcome at the bedside in the PCI short stay unit, the 2C Cardiovascular Unit, or the Critical Care Unit (ICU). This limit is to encourage patients to rest, and to reduce traffic and noise in the recovery area. We ask that visitors respect other patients and their families in these quiet areas.